Ghosts of the Clans

Chapter 5

"Ouch!" Minnowtail staggered as Hollowkit swiped-with sheathed claws, thankfully- at her shoulder, where her injury was at. 

"What's wrong?" the dark brown tabby tom-kit paused and stared at her. Silently, she cursed under her breath. "Nothing..except this!" she lied, then pounced on top of him. Hollowkit twisted away, his dark amber eyes twinkling, and fled. Lumbering after him, Minnowtail tried her best to imitate a badger.

But without warning, a brown-and-white bundle of fur cannonballed into her. "Mossykit!" Minnowtail yelped, pretending to be frightened. Her brother also returned, and the two young kits advanced toward her, their tiny teeth bared in a growl. Minnowtail stifled a mmrow of amusement. They are so cute!

When they attacked, Hollowkit grazed her shoulder yet again, making her wince. She fell to the ground with all four paws in the air, panting as if she had lost. Mossykit paced around her, her fluffy tail high. "Do you give up?"

"Yes! You are such strong, scary warriors," Minnowtail got up and gave her pelt a shake. "Kits! It's time for your nap!" Pinefur called from the nursery. "Awwwww!" they chorused together, their tails drooping. "But we want to play with Minnowtail! She is so fun," they protested, but still headed for the nursery.

But on the way, they somehow bumped onto the ginger-and-white fur of Pouncetail, their father. He halted awkwardly and muttered, "Sorry," and was about to leave when Hollowkit suddenly exclaimed, "Hi! You are our father, aren't you? Why don't you ever play with us?"

Minnowtail looked at the nursery to see Pinefur staring at Pouncetail, a challenging look in her sharp amber gaze. Pouncetail met her gaze, then shifted it to the kits. "Well, you see, I'm quite a strong warrior in RiverClan, and so I've got to serve my Clan well, don't you think? Whenever I'm free, I'll come visit you two, I promise." he lied through his teeth.

But Hollowkit and Mossykit were not done with their 'interview'. Mossykit inquired, "But I see you in camp often! And why don't you ever share tongues with Pinefur? Mintfur is also a powerful warrior, but when Icewing had kits, he still shared tongues with her!"

Before Pouncetail could reply, Pinefur appeared and dragged her kits away by the scruff of their necks. "Now, kits. That's not the way to talk to your dear father!" she reprimanded them, though Minnowtail could hear the sarcasm in the word 'dear'.  The brown tabby she-cat guided them into the nursery, then came back out and blocked Pouncetail's way.

"What? I'm going on patrol with Dapplenose soon!" the ginger-and-white tom protested, shoving her away. "Only Dapplenose? Amazing, I never knew that you two could defend a border yourselves if intruders come," hissed Pinefur, rolling her eyes at her former mate. Pouncetail shuffled his paws uneasily, then looked up with defiance glittering in his sky-blue eyes. "So what if we do? You and Rainstorm are not quite different!" he snarled, lashing out a paw.

A collective gasp of shock rose from the crowd who had gathered to witness the gossip between the two mates. Dapplenose and Rainstorm in particular looked awkward, not meeting anyone's eyes. But no cat was even glancing at them. All eyes were on the fight.

Pinefur let out a growl of fury deep within her throat, blocking the blow. "I don't know what I ever saw in you, Pouncetail. You shouldn't even be my mate!" she screeched, tussling with the bigger tom. He pinned her down with one paw on her chest and retorted, "Finally you realised that. How long did it take, huh? Long enough for you to grow a single microscopic cell of your brain?"

Pinefur flinched, her attack wavering and hurt showed in her amber eyes for a heartbeat before changing to rage. Seeing it, Minnowtail realised that however harsh Pouncetail had treated her, Pinefur still cared for him. But now, watching ginger, white and brown fur flying in the air, she had to stop it.

"What are you doing?" she leaped into the middle of the fight, her dark gray-and-white fur bushed. Pinefur hissed, curling her lip to reveal sharp fangs. "This is none of your concern, Minnowtail."

"But it is the Clan's." Leopardstar and Mistyfoot had arrived. They strode into the clearing and eyed the fighting cats angrily. Both Pouncetail and Pinefur seemed to shrink beneath their pelts, the light of battle disappearing from their eyes.

"Leopardstar, I'm sorry," began Pinefur, bowing her head. Pouncetail muttered something inaudible that Minnowtail hoped was an apology, but all of a sudden, Hollowkit and Mossykit poked their heads out of the nursery. "Pinefur, we can't-" Mossykit's whine was broken off when she saw the stat of her parents.

Mistyfoot gave Pinefur a nod, and the brown tabby she-cat hurried over to her kits, giving their ears a swift lick. "It's alright, my dears. Just a squabble, that's all." Minnowtail heard her comfort her kits, though Hollowkit still let out a wail when he saw the blood trickling down her fur.

Not wanting to see any more, Minnowtail headed out of camp. The time when she had played with Mossykit and Hollowkit seemed a long time ago, her content replaced with a mix of horror and upset.